Majoring in English—why so much disrespect?

[Anonymous]

Part of it is that English or other humanities majors have higher acceptance rates and lower selectivity, often used or proposed by DCuM as a back door to enter elite colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know women’s studies, studio art, and political science majors from my LAC, who went to medical school.

3% of med school students were/are humanities majors

It’s safe to say nobody knows many English majors who became doctors because it’s statistically impossible.

But you may know some.

Statistically if you know 33 doctors one of them majored in humanities. To know two you need to know 67 doctors. To know “a few” or you need to know hundreds of doctors.

That’s all humanities…not just English (poli sci most popular humanities major BTW). We are talking specifically English majors which is the title of the thread.

You probably have to know 150-200 doctors to know one that was an English major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An example of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in Middle English. Understanding it is only the beginning.

"Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote

The droghte of Marche hath perced to the roote,

And bathed every veyne in swich licour,

Of which vertu engendred is the flour."

Oof, I remember having to recite this for class. "Shoor-us soot-eh ..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of it is that English or other humanities majors have higher acceptance rates and lower selectivity, often used or proposed by DCuM as a back door to enter elite colleges.

Elite colleges might have separate schools of engineering with lower acceptance rates, but otherwise don't generally admit into certain majors. And certainly don't release acceptance data by major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An example of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in Middle English. Understanding it is only the beginning.

"Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote

The droghte of Marche hath perced to the roote,

And bathed every veyne in swich licour,

Of which vertu engendred is the flour."

Oof, I remember having to recite this for class. "Shoor-us soot-eh ..."

Now try writing a critical analysis on it using Middle English, lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know women’s studies, studio art, and political science majors from my LAC, who went to medical school.

3% of med school students were/are humanities majors

It’s safe to say nobody knows many English majors who became doctors because it’s statistically impossible.

But you may know some.

Statistically if you know 33 doctors one of them majored in humanities. To know two you need to know 67 doctors. To know “a few” or you need to know hundreds of doctors.

That’s all humanities…not just English (poli sci most popular humanities major BTW). We are talking specifically English majors which is the title of the thread.

You probably have to know 150-200 doctors to know one that was an English major.

Gracious, I was an English major and even I understand that's not how probability works. You do not "have to know 150-200 doctors" to know one who was an English major. You can know just one doctor - the one in 150 who was an English major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I majored in English, work in communications, and have a six-figure salary. Because I worked for a university, I also took advantage of the tuition benefit and earned a master’s degree as well, also in English. I have an interesting, flexible job that I love. I think anyone can be successful with just about any type of degree, as long as you gain experience along the way and know how to present yourself.

This is a compelling example of someone forging a career directly in line with studying English.

I don’t get why anyone says I majored in X and then went to law school or earned an MBA in order to become Y. It’s a tacit admission that it can’t be a useful terminal degree for many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many people think its easy - I speak English, how difficult can it be? They don't understand (or don't want to understand) what the major entails. The breadth and type of literature that is read is not easy. Just try reading Chaucer's work in its original Middle English with a deep understanding followed by critical analysis and writing. I understand it's difficult to get a high paying job like in finance which is why many English majors do go on to grad school.

l

GMU English grad here again. No, it was really really easy. They even had movie classes, movies! And I skipped the hard books. Just pay attention in class and take some notes, I never read a single Faulkner book.

Different English major PP here - there are harder and easier ways to do it, and harder and easier schools. Which is true of any major.

I was a dabbler myself and had time for a second major, some STEM electives, and a year abroad. I graduated with people who had a deep knowledge of certain literary movements and were published in academic journals as undergrads. That was at a school not particularly known for its English program; DH had a more demanding experience at a different school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part of it is that English or other humanities majors have higher acceptance rates and lower selectivity, often used or proposed by DCuM as a back door to enter elite colleges.

Elite colleges might have separate schools of engineering with lower acceptance rates, but otherwise don't generally admit into certain majors. And certainly don't release acceptance data by major.

Not just engineering. There are many many oversubscribed majors, finance, premed.

Where they have separate engineering school, their CAS also offer Computer Science major (Cornell, Columbia). Penn is free to take CS courses, and / or double major.

DCUM counselors frequently shouted "it's the major!". But yes, one can sneak in as English major then switch to Econ. That leads to disrespect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An example of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in Middle English. Understanding it is only the beginning.

"Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote

The droghte of Marche hath perced to the roote,

And bathed every veyne in swich licour,

Of which vertu engendred is the flour."

Oof, I remember having to recite this for class. "Shoor-us soot-eh ..."

This Chaucer lesson brings home so many important aspects of the human experience. I was an English major (double major with a social science), then went on to get a Masters, and then went to law school. Thirty years later I still remember with love and gratitude my English classes: the things we read and discussed and wrote. It made me a better reader, a better writer, and a more empathetic and nuanced human being.

Today people (including me) worry so much about what jobs their kids will get after college. I’d encourage a double major along with English. But the study of language and literature is one of the things that helps us keep our humanity. Covid showed us the importance of the arts to human survival. I’d be proud if my kids majored in English or history. But if they didn’t want to be academics or go to graduate school for something more “marketable,” I’d be nervous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part of it is that English or other humanities majors have higher acceptance rates and lower selectivity, often used or proposed by DCuM as a back door to enter elite colleges.

Elite colleges might have separate schools of engineering with lower acceptance rates, but otherwise don't generally admit into certain majors. And certainly don't release acceptance data by major.

Not just engineering. There are many many oversubscribed majors, finance, premed.

Where they have separate engineering school, their CAS also offer Computer Science major (Cornell, Columbia). Penn is free to take CS courses, and / or double major.

DCUM counselors frequently shouted "it's the major!". But yes, one can sneak in as English major then switch to Econ. That leads to disrespect.

Premed isn't a major.

Name a top 20 school, other than Cal and UCLA, that has a separate admissions process/data for English vs biology or economics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of it is that English or other humanities majors have higher acceptance rates and lower selectivity, often used or proposed by DCuM as a back door to enter elite colleges.

It doesn't seem like you have a deep understanding of college admissions. There is no back door anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know women’s studies, studio art, and political science majors from my LAC, who went to medical school.

3% of med school students were/are humanities majors

It’s safe to say nobody knows many English majors who became doctors because it’s statistically impossible.

But you may know some.

Statistically if you know 33 doctors one of them majored in humanities. To know two you need to know 67 doctors. To know “a few” or you need to know hundreds of doctors.

That’s all humanities…not just English (poli sci most popular humanities major BTW). We are talking specifically English majors which is the title of the thread.

You probably have to know 150-200 doctors to know one that was an English major.

Gracious, I was an English major and even I understand that's not how probability works. You do not "have to know 150-200 doctors" to know one who was an English major. You can know just one doctor - the one in 150 who was an English major.

And that’s why people look down on English majors. If you look at the prior post it started with the word “statistically”, meaning on average. You’re confusing a possible outcome with the probability that said outcome is realized. Where’s that sharp critical thinking that English majors supposedly develop while analyzing Shakespeare? Businesses will not pay you money for these trite arguments, you need to be productive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I majored in English, work in communications, and have a six-figure salary. Because I worked for a university, I also took advantage of the tuition benefit and earned a master’s degree as well, also in English. I have an interesting, flexible job that I love. I think anyone can be successful with just about any type of degree, as long as you gain experience along the way and know how to present yourself.

This is a compelling example of someone forging a career directly in line with studying English.

I don’t get why anyone says I majored in X and then went to law school or earned an MBA in order to become Y. It’s a tacit admission that it can’t be a useful terminal degree for many.

A terminal degree in almost all fields is a doctorate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The wealthiest person I know (a multi-millionaire) majored in English, went on later to get an MBA, and successfully started two companies. He encouraged his own children to get a solid liberal arts education before picking a career.

+1000

It’s sad we have completely abandoned liberal arts as a base education. Society is worse off for it. No framework for history, geography, religions, ethics, etc. The fall of civilization. We have a front row seat to it right now.

Those that don’t learn history are doomed to repeat it.